AboutYexalen Expertise I am experienced with the care, lighting, heating, breeding, sexing, species identification, and general keeping of mostly aquatic turtles. I also have experience with tortoises and land turtles and can certainly research any question that I do not know the answer. I can not answer medical related questions as I am not veterinarian certified. I prefer not to answer questions on animals that you or somebody else has taken out of their natural environment unless the animal was in danger, ill, or injured.
Experience I have owned six aquatic turtles and have been researching turtles for several years. I have been on several question and answer sites under this category. I also have started up a web site focused on reptile care with a portion of it for turtles.
Education/Credentials I have been around turtles sense a very young age and always found them fascinating and because of that it has lead me to researching day after day, reading book after book, and finding endless amounts of web sites with information.
Expert: Yexalen Date: 7/3/2008 Subject: Eggs and habitat
Question Really I have two questions. Recently we have gotten a pet turtle and found its a painted turtle.
Until we buy her a real aquarium made for a turtle, we have her in a tank, with just water, but logs and rocks she can lay on to bask. What type of tank or thing should we keep her in for her to be healthiest and happiest?
And she laid four eggs last night. they were on one of the rocks, but still in the water. I took them out. Is there any chance of them hatching? If there is, what care should I provide for them?
Answer Hi Ayla, the eggs probably wont hatch but be sure you dont turn them over because this can mean sure death the the embryo inside. Please them in an incubator for good luck and hope for the best. If you are going to toss them freeze them first and burry them inside a plastic bag. Eggs start to smell after a bit. You can throw them in a garbage can but I would check and make sure pick up is soon.
You need to provide her with a laying area because if not provided she can hold the eggs in and that can be dangerous to her.
Turtles will lay infertile eggs without mating so expect this a few times a year every year.
I find the best tank for a turtle is a Water Land Tub they make them in all kinds of sizes its a tub that has a section for water and an easy access to land. Which makes for a great lay site filled with 50/50 mix of organic soil and clean sand.
Then the heat lamps and uv lights will be on the land area
Otherwise a large reptile tank will work just as well, some people buy molded ponds and put them in their homes. If you have the space that is great.
